The Effects of Electromagnetic Fields from Transmission Lines on Public Fears and Property Values

Reports that proximity to electrical transmission or distribution lines may be responsible for increases in human health risks, including leukemia and brain cancers, have resulted in a sharp rise in the level of public concern despite decidedly mixed scientific results. An important policy question is whether these perceptions of health risks may also have resulted in measurable reductions in the value of properties in the vicinity of electrical lines. In this paper, we first discuss some of the reasons why power-frequency lines could cause reductions in property values and review the implications of public concerns about EMF exposure for mitigation initiatives. We then summarize findings, from recent court cases as well as published literature and reports, regarding the observed magnitude and extent of reduced property values. In a final section, we use these results to provide bounds on the extent of likely property value reductions due to concerns about EMF exposure.